A beautiful and healthy garden is possible without the use of expensive
and often hazardous chemicals. The following are a number of natural recipes
to create safe and effective deterrents to bugs, pets and other pests. With
a little effort, you'll be doing your garden and the environment a big favour.
Chop or grind garlic and onion, add cayenne and mix with water. Let steep 1 hour, then add liquid soap. Store in a covered jar in the refrigerator up to one week. Use as a spray wherever insects are causing a problem.
Cats
- 2 parts cayenne powder
- 3 parts dry mustard powder
- 5 parts flour
- Add sufficient water
Dogs
- 1 garlic
- 1 medium onion
- 1 litre of water
- 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
Squirrels
- 1/2 ounce Tabasco sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 pint water
- Dash of dish soap
Use as a spray on the plants and yard areas where these animals are causing a problem.
Aphids: 10" x 10" pieces of masonite or other stiff material, painted bright yellow and coated with Tap Trap or Tack Trap or Tanglefoot or pertroleum jelly, placed near susceptible plants.
Earwigs: Pieces of corrugated cardboard are placed near lettuce, Chinese cabbage, flowers (plants which are attracted to earwigs). They will hide in and under the cardboard. After a few days, collect in the morning, crush or drown.
Slugs or Squash Bugs: Lay out boards near affected plants; they will provide daytime shelter for those nocturnal pests. Inspect daily.
| Problem | Solution | Recipe |
|---|---|---|
| aphids, thrips | Stinging Nettle Spray | Cover 1 quart nettles with water, cover and steep for 3 weeks, dilute with 7 parts of water. |
| aphids, June beetles, Black Spot, fungus diseases | Rhubarb Spray | Steep 6 rhubarb leaves in 2 to 3 quarts of boiling water. |
| chewing/sucking insects, mildew, leaf spot, rust, spore disease | Garlic Spray | Steep 3 cloves of garlic, 1 medium onion and 1 teaspoon of very hot pepper in 1 quart of water for 10 minutes, then strain. Can be diluted with water 1:4. |
| chewing/sucking insects | Pyrethrum Spray | Steep 1 tbsp of dry flower heads in 2 quarts of hot water. Pyrethrum (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium) is an attractive perennial with marguerite daisy-like flowers. |
| white flies | Mullein Spray | Steep 1 part mashed mullein leaves with 5 parts of water. |
| aphids, asparagus larvae, Black Spot, scale insects | Tomatoe Leaves | Steep 10 chopped tomatoe leaves and 1 chopped onion in 1/2 cup of alcohol for a few minutes; apply with a swab. |
| spider mites, cabbage worms | Salt Solution | 1 oz. table salt in 1 gallon of water. |
| mosaic disease on tomatoes and peppers | Skim Milk Spray | Sour milk has been used against cabbage worms. |
| potato blight, Black Spot, yellowing tomato leaves | Manure Tea (liquid) | 1/2 commercial bag of manure or 1 mesh onion bag full of old manure and straw steeped in 1/2 of a large plastic garbage can of water. |